Three Indians are among the crew on board the Russian oil tanker seized by the U.S., local media reported even as Moscow on Thursday (January 8, 2026) asked Washington to comply with international laws on freedom of maritime navigation while strongly rejecting its ‘neo-colonist’ tendencies.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also said information about the Marinera tanker, previously known as Bella 1, that was seized on Wednesday (January 7) by the U.S. coastguard in the North Atlantic, was conveyed to America repeatedly.
“The Marinera crew consists of 17 Ukrainian citizens, six Georgian citizens, three Indian citizens and two Russian citizens,” Russia Today said, quoting sources.
Russia accuses U.S. of stoking ‘military-political tension’ with tanker seizure
“We call on Washington to resume compliance with the fundamental norms and principles of international maritime navigation and immediately cease its illegal actions against the Marinera tanker and other vessels engaged in law-abiding activities on the high seas,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
